A retaining ring comprises a generally annular body. The body comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer surface connected to the top surface at an outer top perimeter and the bottom surface at an outer bottom perimeter, and an inner surface connected to the top surface at an inner top perimeter and the bottom surface at an inner bottom perimeter. The inner surface comprises seven or more planar facets. Adjacent planar facets are connected at corners. The inner bottom perimeter comprises straight edges of the planar facets connected at the corners.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface comprises channels extending from the outer surface to the inner surface, and wherein each channel comprises an end open to the inner surface of the body at a same location relative to a nearest corner.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the inner surface comprises a first number of facets and the bottom surface comprises a second number of channels, and wherein the first number is a positive integer times the second number.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first number equals the second number.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the channels are oriented at an angle relative to a radial segment extending through a center of the retaining ring.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein each corner extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, and wherein each facet has a rectangular or square shape having a top straight edge formed with the top surface, a bottom straight edge formed with the bottom surface, and two straight side edges along two corners.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner bottom perimeter has a symmetric shape.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner top perimeter forms a polygon.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance between a center of the retaining ring and a planar facet is about 150 mm to about 155 mm.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a wearable material.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the facets are at equal angular intervals around the inner surface.
12. The method ring of claim 1, wherein the facets have the same shape.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the facets are perpendicular to the bottom surface.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the straight edges have the same length.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the facets are rectangular.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 17, 2023
July 9, 2024
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